My vicious dog, my horse, I can do whatever I want with it

Zong Yanli sat high on the horse's back and headed towards the Zong Yan family's mansion.

Han stood in front of the mansion gate and looked out for a long time. The servant in front went back and forth, bringing back the news that General Zong Yan was already heading towards Zong Yan's mansion. It was obviously such a short journey, but it seemed to be infinitely stretched in her heart.

"Let's go and check again. Why haven't they arrived yet?" Han looked visibly older, with more white hair and deeper wrinkles on her face. Her hair was combed meticulously and her clothes were ironed very flat. She was supported by Zong Yanyin and Yang Shangyue as she stood in front of the mansion gate, her eyes full of hope and expectation.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law. It's inevitable that Ali will move slowly when leading a large army." Zong Yanfeiyi stood by and said to Han: "They will be here soon."

Zong Yanfeiyi got the news and immediately brought his wife and children back. During the time when Zong Yanli was fighting outside, Zong Yanfeiyi had another son, who was now being held in the arms of his wet nurse. The little baby was only a little over one year old.

Yang Shangyue tilted her head slightly and echoed her husband, "Sister-in-law, why don't you go in and sit for a while first."

Han shook her head and looked deeply at the street ahead: "I'll wait for Ali here."

"Here he comes, here he comes!" The servant who ran back eagerly had an excited look on his face. He quickly ran to Han and the others and said, "The young general is here!"

Everyone was shocked and looked intently, finally seeing the flag appearing a little bit. The extremely familiar ink-colored flag appeared in front of everyone.

Han's eyes became red almost the moment she saw the flag, and tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. In a trance, she seemed to have returned to the past when she first became a wife and married to Zong Yanhongjing. Her husband was accompanied by this flag every time he returned home and every time he went to war.

Zongyan.

The military flag of the Zong Yan clan.

Han swallowed deeply, swallowing the sourness in her throat, and finally saw clearly with her eyes open. She saw the figure riding high on the warhorse under the flag, and Zong Yanli sitting on the black horse. The child she had pushed into the battle was finally back today.

The war horses stopped, Zong Yanli got off the horse, and many generals including Long Feiguang dismounted behind him.

"I am an unfilial son. I have been fighting outside for more than 20 years. Now... I am back home."

"Just come back."

"...I'm glad you're back." Han choked with sobs and tears, staggered forward with trembling hands and wanted to help Zong Yanli up, but when she got closer, she saw the hideous scar on Zong Yanli's neck. She froze in place for a moment, and reached out her hand several times but retracted it as if she didn't dare to touch him.

"Mother." Zong Yanli raised his hand, held her hand, stood up, reached out to take off the mask on his face, revealing a slightly weathered face. She was already 37 years old and no longer looked the same as before. Years of hard work in the war showed that her face was even more tired.

Han stared deeply at her child. She was even a little afraid to recognize her. She listened to her hoarse and unpleasant voice and looked at the wound on her neck.

It was no longer possible for her to maintain her dignity as the mistress of a noble family. She threw herself into Zong Yanli's arms and cried bitterly, "My child..."

"I'm sorry for you. It's all my fault..."

"my child……"

Han's sorrowful crying was very moving. Zong Yanyin, who followed closely behind, approached eagerly, staring at Zong Yanli in a daze. She could hardly believe that this was her brother. With trembling lips, she looked at Zong Yanli and said, "Brother, you are injured..."

This may not be described with just the word 'hurt'. She looked at Zong Yanli and cried, "How could this happen? Brother..."

Both mother and daughter hugged Zong Yanli and cried. Zong Yanli was wearing heavy armor and looked at her mother and sister helplessly. Although she had expected such a situation, she did not expect it to be so fierce. She comforted them and said, "Mother, sister, I'm fine. It's just a minor injury. I have already recovered."

It would have been fine if she hadn't said anything, but once she opened her mouth, Han and Zong Yanyin couldn't help crying even louder after hearing Zong Yanli's broken voice.

Zong Yanli looked up at Wei Songhe and Zong Yanfeiyi helplessly, motioning them to come over quickly to comfort him.

Wei Songhe and Zong Yanfeiyi's eyes were red too. After a long while, they came forward and supported one of them. Zong Yanfeiyi supported Han and said, "Sister-in-law, please take care of yourself. A-li just came back. It's a happy occasion, why are you crying like this? If you cry and hurt yourself, A-li will be in trouble."

Wei Songhe also supported Zong Yanyin and said, "Madam, please don't cry anymore. Brother has traveled a long way back from the north, and he must be very tired..."

After everyone's persuasion, Han and Zong Yanyin finally stopped crying, but every time they looked at Zong Yanli, they couldn't help but well up in tears.

"The Emperor is still waiting for me. I will return home after I report to the palace." Zong Yanli breathed a sigh of relief and leaned over to apologize to Han: "Mother, you don't have to wait for me. This trip may take some time."

"Go, mother has been waiting for you for so many years, so a little time won't matter." Han said this while looking at her child with eyes full of pity, holding back the tears in her eyes.

"Please ask my fourth uncle and fourth aunt to take good care of mother. I will be back soon." Zong Yanli turned sideways and nodded to Zong Yanfeiyi and Yang Shangyue. He then sat on his warhorse again and continued to move forward towards the palace with his soldiers.

In front of the gate of the imperial palace, He Honglang was standing at the front wearing a dragon robe, with officials lined up behind him and eunuchs and guards reporting from time to time beside him.

The last imperial guard who came forward bowed and said, "Your Majesty, General Zong Yan is here."

He Honglang was shocked, his eyes lit up and a smile appeared on his face unconsciously. He took two steps forward and looked over, and finally saw his lion-like general, Zong Yanli riding high on his warhorse, exactly the same as he remembered.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Zong Yanli stopped his horse and strode towards He Honglang. He took off the purse hanging from his waist and presented it with both hands, saying, "In the Northern Expedition, we destroyed the Northern and Lu countries, and the Wuhuan surrendered. Now the world is finally united!"

"All the lands in the world belong to Qian, long live our emperor!"

The voice was not very loud, and was even a little hoarse, but the words sounded like thunder in the ears, so shocking!

He Honglang had heard the news long ago, and now when he heard it from Zong Yanli himself, he felt his blood boiling in his chest and his whole body relaxed. He strode forward, grabbed Zong Yanli's hand, helped her stand up and said, "Teacher, please stand up quickly. I have heard the news. You have made a great contribution this time!"

"You are my great hero! Pass on my order——"

"Today, the king's army returns triumphantly, our heroes of Daqian return home, and a general amnesty is granted to the world!"

"..."

What followed was the reward, and the imperial edict that had been prepared long ago was read out in front of all the officials.

Zong Yanli of the Zong Yan clan was granted the title of King of Zhenbei and concurrently served as the Prince's Grand Tutor.

Under the warm autumn sun, imperial edicts were read out one after another. Behind her, Long Feiguang and many other generals were rewarded. They finally walked out of the flames of war, stepped through the rain of swords, guns and arrows with their flesh and blood, and welcomed the glory that belonged to them.

Wealth, honor and admiration.

This road to victory was built by many brothers.

And Zong Yanli also became the first person in the history of Daqian to hold the position of king and prince and be in charge of the three armies, and also the emperor's teacher!